Diesel price hike sparks protest, bus strike next week

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 25: Left parties and BJP today (Jun 25) staged demonstrations across Kerala in protest against hike in the prices of diesel and cooking gas while the private bus operators threatened to organise a one-day strike on June 29.

Raising anti-Centre slogans, workers of CPI-M's youth wing DYFI blocked a passenger train at Kannur as part of their state-wide protest against the fuel price hike.

BJP workers took out marches in the state capital and other centres condemning the price increase.

Private Bus Operators Co-ordination Committee announced that all the services would be suspended on June 29 demanding an immediate fare hike in view of the diesel price increase.

The latest increase had come as a big blow to bus industry and immediate hike in minimum fares from Rs 4 to 5 was inevitable, its office-bearers said in Kozhikode.

They said if their demands were not met by the government, they would think about launching an indefinite strike.

The Centre had yesterday hiked prices of diesel and kerosene by Rs 3 and Rs 2 respectively. The price of domestic LPG had also been increased by Rs 50 per cylinder.

PTI